Lynne J. Strobel
Shareholder
Land Use & Zoning Practice Group Leader | Arlington Office
A native of Fairfax County, Lynne has been with WCL&W since graduating from law school in 1988. She is experienced in all phases of the land use and development process in Fairfax County and surrounding jurisdictions including Fairfax City, Falls Church, and the Towns of Vienna and Herndon. Lynne specializes in land use and zoning issues for commercial, residential, and mixed-use development and has extensive experience with special permit, special exception, and variance applications. Over the years, Lynne has developed an extensive practice representing non-profits, including numerous places of worship and schools.
- Obtained approval for a 2,100-seat sanctuary for the Korean Central Presbyterian Church in Centreville.
- Coordinated a complex redevelopment of a debris landfill resulting in a mixed-use center including a Wegman’s grocery store.
- Participated in a PPEA negotiation between Fairfax County and Clark Realty and received approval of a multi-family development combined with a county library.
- Successful representation of Gannett Co., Inc., for land use approval in the move of its headquarters to Fairfax County.
- Obtained approval for an office park containing approximately one million square feet in proximity to the new NGIA facility in Springfield.
- Representation of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington in numerous applications in Fairfax County.
- Representation of numerous commercial uses requiring special exception approval such as service stations, drive-through banks, and fast-food restaurants.
- Representation of numerous clients in development opportunities associated with BRAC-related improvements.
- Assists clients in obtaining site plan approvals and permits and regularly appears before the Fairfax County Planning Commission, the Board of Supervisors, and the Board of Zoning Appeals.
- Approval of a 6.1-million-square-foot mixed-use development in proximity to the McLean Metro Station, the single largest application processed and approved in Tysons to date. The 30-acre site, located on the south side of Route 123, will be transformed into a walkable mixed-use environment comprised of office, residential, hotel, and retail uses allowing people to live, work, shop, and play without relying on a car. The construction of the first residential buildings is complete, with a hotel and other residential buildings soon under construction, beginning the transformation of Fairfax County’s Urban Center.
- The acquisition of the appropriate approvals for a domestic violence shelter in Fairfax County. In the process of seeking a building permit, it was discovered that the shelter did not have the appropriate zoning approvals to operate and there was no money in the budget for professional assistance. Lynne donated her time doing what was necessary to overcome neighborhood opposition. During the approval process, some of the women who had been helped by the shelter had the courage to tell their stories. The project was approved, allowing the County to retain this valuable community asset.
- The negotiation and approval of the redevelopment plan for Lake Anne Village Center in Reston. Lake Anne Village Center was part of an innovative concept conceived over 50 years ago by Robert E. Simon to allow people to live, shop, and work in a mixed-use community. The development of Reston Town Center diminished the vibrancy of Lake Anne Village Center. In 1984, Fairfax County designated a part of the area as a Historic Overlay District and, in 2006, became further invested with the acquisition of the Crescent Apartments for affordable housing units. Representing the developer, Lynne worked on a complex series of proffers, plans, and agreements as part of a public-private partnership.
- Representation of a family whose land evolved over 50 years from a chicken business to Hilltop Village Center. Lynne began representing the family in a series of special exceptions needed to transform a sand and gravel excavation operation into a construction debris landfill. The landfill benefited Fairfax County developers as its residential population increased. As the approved contours were reached, Lynne gained approvals for a golf course and driving range, providing a recreational benefit to County residents. As the number of golf facilities in Fairfax County outpaced demand, the family began to think of other options. An innovative concept was designed that allowed a portion of the property not used for the landfill operation to be developed with a shopping center anchored by a Wegman’s. A portion of the remaining property has been converted into community athletic fields.
- Lee Village at Silver Lake, LLC, proposed a public-private partnership that resulted in a public library, a fast food restaurant within the library building, workforce housing (up to 111 multi-family dwelling units), and independent living units (up to 89 units). The approval creates a unique opportunity to address community needs.
- CHPPENN I, LLC engaged in a public-private partnership with the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority for the development of approximately 34.88 acres on Richmond Highway known as North Hill. Lynne successfully processed a rezoning application comprised of 279 affordable multi-family dwelling units, including a minimum of 60 independent living units, and a maximum of 175 single-family attached units to support the construction of the affordable units.
- American Bar Association
- Arlington County Bar Association
- Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ Rated
- Recognition by Multifamily Residential Development Community for participation in the Fairfax County Affordable Dwelling Unit Task Force
- Named to ALM’s Woman Leaders In The Law and featured in The American Lawyer, Corporate Counsel, and The National Law Journal, 2019-2021
- Instructor for presentation to the Engineers & Surveyors Institute
- Presentation to the Fairfax Committee of 100
- Instructor for various Virginia Continuing Legal Education classes
- Moderator for panel discussions, Quantico/Belvoir Regional Business Alliance, Inc.
- Moderator and Speaker for Leadership Fairfax, Inc.
- “Fairfax board approves 25-story Tysons condo tower after working out affordable issue,” WBJ, Web, April 5, 2016 (Link to Article.)
- Served two six-year terms on the board of Celebrate Fairfax!—a non-profit organization committed to the Fairfax community and county-wide celebrations. During her first term on the board, from 1993 to 1999, Lynne served as Vice President of Planning and Administration and oversaw the scholarship program. During her second term, from 2006 to 2012, she helped revive the scholarship program, which had lapsed due to economic and other considerations, and has participated in the award of 10 scholarships to Fairfax County graduating high school seniors each since 2012. Lynne served as the board chair from 2009 to 2011. While no longer on the board, she has continued to assist the organization as a member of the Leadership Team and the Scholarship Committee, contributing many volunteer hours of service.
- Served on the Board of Directors from 2006 to 2012 for Doorways, a non-profit organization that serves women and families in need and provides temporary shelter to victims of domestic violence. Lynne served on the Executive Committee and as Chair of the Facilities Committee where she helped the organization upgrade to a new office location, assisted with the Brighter Futures Breakfast fundraiser, and ensured facilities, such as the family home and domestic violence shelter, continued to be maintained and upgraded as necessary. Lynne continues to serve on the Doorways Emeritus Board.
- A member of the George Mason Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship (CREE) Advisory Board. The CREE Advisory Board is instrumental in promoting and supporting the educational programs of the Center, including support for the Mason Masters of Real Estate Development program, and serves as a connection between George Mason University and the real estate community.
- A graduate of the Leadership Fairfax Institute’s Class of 2004, Lynne currently serves on the Board of Leadership Fairfax, a non-profit that inspires, connects, develops, and engages leaders to impact issues facing Fairfax County and the region.
- Zonta International, Fairfax County Chapter (a women’s service organization)
- College of William & Mary, Mentor, Co-Council Program
- Served on the Zoning Ordinance Re-write Committee in the City of Fairfax, 2014-2016.
- Recognized in 2001 at a dinner at the Tower Club by the Multifamily Residential Development Community for her participation in the Fairfax County Affordable Dwelling Unit Task Force.
- Instrumental in developing amendments to the Affordable Dwelling Unit Ordinance, which helps people of low and moderate income secure affordable housing.
- Nominated for Fairfax County Volunteer Service Awards produced by Volunteer Fairfax.
- Certificate of Appreciation from the Korean Central Presbyterian Church, October 3, 2010.
- Ambassador Award from Celebrate Fairfax!, June, 2013.
- Recipient of the James M. Scott Community Spirit Award, June, 2019
- Recognized by Northern Virginia Magazine as a “Top Lawyer in Real Estate and Family Concerns” in the category of zoning, planning, and land use in 2011, 2014, and 2015.
- Achieved Martindale-Hubbell’s AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating, the gold standard in attorney ratings.
- Recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America from 2017 to 2021 for Land Use and Zoning, Real Estate Law.
- Recognized by Virginia Living magazine as one of the Top Women in the Law, 2018